As a college student, I rather enjoy programming to solve problem sets - and at the same time, I like being able to play around and build whatever my heart desires.
I'm pretty amped about this, to be honest. Gives me a way to take an Algorithms class a semester early, and it serves as a good kick in the rear too! (Well, hopefully not so much the latter - just excited to be able to take the class!)
I have absolutely no clue as to how much time I've spent programming. I've been programming for about five to six years now, and in a month I'll be a sophomore in college. I don't really know what my skill level is either - for me, I just like learning new concepts. Take what I know and use that to learn more while refining what I know in the process.
I think it's a great idea, but at the same time, I'm wary to start jumping on eTextbook renting simply because of my tech ADD - and because it's easier to use a regular textbook. Sure, your textbook might be heavy, but you don't need to be connected to a power source/be dependent upon an electronic device for your materials.